Thursday 9 February 2017

PR for Small Businesses

Afroditi Lazarou

Public Relations is an essential element in the success of already established companies. However, raising awareness and creating a positive reputation through Public Relations is equally important for small companies and start-ups. But how can these companies practice PR tactics without spending too much money? 

First of all, the company needs to be interactive on social media. Connecting with the audience online and making the customers feel valued by being accessible and open to discussion on social media is critical and also free. PR practitioners should take advantage of the fact that small companies can be more personal and communicative than larger ones. 

Moreover, there should be a mix of different kind of media. The PR practitioner should use as many mediums as possible. The messages should be consistent on all media in order to avoid contradictions.  Having a strong online presence can make a difference and it can also ensure a better communication not only with the consumers, but also with popular influencers. 

Last but not least, the messages should be original. Sometimes, a creative idea has more impact than an expensive one. The PR practitioner should think out of the box and not hesitate to implement unique ideas. If something is special, it attracts more attention. 

Achieving a good PR is not always a matter of money or even strong media relations. Small companies do have some strengths that can lead to their success if used correctly and efficiently.